CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE
Once he knew that Lorna was safe in her room, Bryce had returned to his own to bathe and dress. He didn’t want to waste another second before asking Fergus for Lorna’s hand. He wanted to get Lorna out of her family as soon as possible, so that they could begin their life in happiness and not fear. He wanted nothing more to do with treachery and bloodshed and darkness.
When he was ready, he left his chamber, mussing his hair nervously as he walked toward the study. It was where Fergus had retired to after Athol had been put in his chamber, and Bryce was certain that he was still there, drinking away his sorrows. He no doubt had not even gone to speak with Lady Arrin about all this.
The man was weak, but Bryce could understand the humiliation. Once he reached the study door, he pulled on his coat, making tiny, pointless adjustments, trying to think of the words he wanted to say. After another breath, he knocked and when he heard a voice on the other side, he opened the door.
Fergus was right where Bryce thought he’d be: in the study, holding tightly to a whisky glass. But he’d moved from behind the desk to one of the chairs by the fire. Bryce didn’t wait for an invitation. He sat down across from him and poured himself a glass of whisky from the table in front of him.
Fergus hardly seemed to notice his arrival. He was staring into the flames, and his eyes looked red-rimmed. Bryce waited in silence for a little while, drinking his whisky.
“I am sorry for all of this, lad. Honestly, I had nae idea what me son was doing.”
Bryce nodded. “Ye did ken about the women.”
Fergus shook his head and took another sip. “Nae really. I only heard bits and pieces here and there. I made assumptions, but I didnae ken much. Me son has kept much from me over the years, and I think that it was because of the way I’d threatened him. Makes me angry. I had hoped tae teach me son tae be a good man through all those threats, but instead, he turned himself into a monster.”
Bryce watched as Fergus’s expression changed from despair to anger. He looked ten years older, even the hand clutching his glass looked older. The man was aging before his eyes.
Bryce was angry too at the way Fergus had handled things, but he needed to make peace, for Lorna’s sake if nothing else. “The only one at fault is Athol, Fergus. There are many young men with strict fathers. But it doesnae turn them into murderers or those who take unwilling women.”
“True enough,” Fergus snorted. “Nae one friend of mine has such as son as this. But that makes me even more determined tae protect young Lorna. I was wrong tae keep the secret, but she was such a tiny, precious thing. I wanted tae always keep her safe and keep her from anything bad.”
“I understand.” Bryce hesitated, but he knew that it would be best to not keep any more secrets. “Ye ken about Siusan, then?”
“Aye.” Fergus’s mouth twisted in distaste. “Athol whispered his confession tae me as Tobias and I were carrying him home.”
To Bryce’s surprise, Fergus put down the glass and leaned his head in his hands. Bryce could hear the man taking deep breaths. It was an incredible thing to see a hardened Laird cry, but Bryce could understand it.
“I ken that ye wish tae protect Lorna, but so do I,” he said eventually, breaking the silence.
“I will do far better than I have done. I will nae make another mistake with her,” Fergus answered as if he hadn’t heard Bryce’s words.
Swallowing slowly, Bryce then said, “I want tae marry Lorna, Fergus. I want tae take her as me wife and protect her for as long as I have breath in me body. I have come tae ask ye this. I hope that we can be married soon so that I may take her away from all this heartache. Give her a life of happiness that she truly deserves. Will ye give yer blessing for this?”
Fergus nodded a few times, looking into the flames. Bryce wondered if the man would actually refuse him. He replied, “There is nae chance that I can accept Athol as Laird. He needs tae be taken away, and even though he willnae be executed, he needs tae be gone from this place, watched over elsewhere so that he doesnae hurt anyone else.”
“Agreed,” Bryce answered, confused about why Fergus still hadn’t answered his question about Lorna.
“Aye, and so I cannae have him as me heir. Since Lorna is the only living heir I have left, then I want her tae act as the clan’s Lady. Upon me death. And her husband would be her Laird.” Fergus turned to face Bryce, looking straight into his eyes.
“I see,” Bryce said. “Lorna would be very deserving of such an honor, but I care nae for meself. I want only tae live by her side.”
“Then that is why that makes ye the very best possible choice for her husband.”
It took a few seconds for Bryce to realize what the man was saying. “Ye are offering yer blessing for the marriage?” he asked, and Fergus actually smiled.
“Aye. I think ye are the perfect man for her. Ye have proven yer worth, even if I didnae trust ye. I didnae want me daughter tae spend time with a womanizer, a philanderer.” His eyes narrowed. “If that is yer intention with me daughter, and I find out about it, I will have nae qualms about cutting yer head from yer shoulders. Do ye understand?”
“Aye, Fergus. Aye. I would never wish tae hurt Lorna. Me days of philandering are done. I want only Lorna, forever and ever.” Bryce couldn’t stop smiling like a dolt.
“Good.” Fergus patted him on the shoulder. “I ken that I havenae been very kind tae ye since yer arrival, and that was for many reasons, of course. But now that I will have lost me son tae some unknown place, I hope that we will come tae think of one another fondly.”
“Aye,” Bryce answered, shaking Fergus’s hand. “I hope for that too.”
“Good, then it is settled.” Fergus sighed, grabbed his glass and leaned back into his chair. “I have things tae think about and a wife tae share the bad news with. Perhaps ye should like tae go and ask Lorna how she feels about this. And tell her that her grandfather is giving his hearty blessing.”
“I will, Fergus.” Bryce stood and hurried out of the room. He thought, as he left, that he heard Fergus give a low chuckle.
